UN nuclear watchdog agency confirms inspectors have found traces of military-grade enriched uranium northeast of Cairo. Investigation ongoing, agency believes particles may have come into country on containers holding radio isotopes

In an interview to the Arabic-language BBC radio, the chief added that Egypt was
operating under full transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "The IAEA knows this full well," he added.

According to the British network, the Egyptian authorities claimed that the uranium traces originated in trucks carrying the residue of radioactive materials for medical purposes.

The UN nuclear watchdog agency said Wednesday its inspectors have found traces of weapons-grade uranium in Egypt. A restricted report from the International Atomic Energy Agency said the particles were detected last year and in 2007, and remain under investigation.

The report also said the highly enriched uranium particles were found alongside traces of low-enriched uranium particles. Both were detected at the Inshas site, northeast of Cairo, where Egypt's two small research reactors are located.

On Wednesday Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit conveyed the concerns this week when US envoy Dennis Ross, who is dealing with Iran, visited Cairo.

"Iran's behavior in the region is negative in many aspects and does not help in advancing security, stability and peace," he told Ross.